Imran Khan honoured with International Sports Personality Award in Dubai

Former Pakistan all-rounder Imran Khan was awarded the ‘International Sports Personality Award’ at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards ceremony in Dubai, UAE on Sunday. The 69-year-old is the 22nd and the current Prime minister of Pakistan, and he has served for almost 21 years in international cricket for his country. He also led the country to their first-ever World cup victory in 1992 and retired from the game the same year.

According to the sources from PakTribune, the awards were distributed by the Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, and Mattar Al Tayer Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the Dubai Exhibition Centre. Imran’s contributions have been immense during his stint and he is considered to be one of the all-time greats of the game.

Imran Khan’s massive contributions to Pakistan cricket

It is true, that Imran is seen as one of the heroes of the nation and he started a $639 million initiative two years ago for the welfare of the youth in Pakistan, which saw young men and women handed scholarships and skill-development opportunities, including scholarships in the sport. He also revealed plans to build a cricket ground in each of Pakistan’s over 4,000 Union and Village Councils, in June last year.

Apart from his political influence in the growth of Pakistan cricket, he has been a warrior with both bat and ball. Imran picked up 362 wickets in 88 Tests at an average of 22.8 with 23 five-wicket hauls and scored 3807 runs in the format as well with six centuries. In 175 ODIS, Imran picked up 182 wickets and contributed 3709 runs as well down the order with 19 half-centuries.

In the 1992 World cup final, Imran came into bat at number three while batting first and scored a crucial 72 that helped Pakistan post a formidable score on the board. The men in green ended up winning the title after a brilliant spell of bowling from Wasim Akram and it will definitely go down as the greatest moments for Pakistan cricket.